Balance and Burnout- Prioritizing Self-Care After the Pandemic
I recently had a conversation with a candidate and I mentioned missing the pace and balance of the world during the height of the pandemic (minus the doom and gloom). Everyone and everything seemed to slow down and allowed people to stop and reflect on the important things in life.
Fast-forward to 2022, life and business are in full force, and there seems to be even less time to do the things we have done during the slower times of the pandemic. People went from slow-motion speed to the Indy 500 in terms of pacing, and a significant amount of disorientation is being experienced because of it. Because of this, I feel bringing up the topics of wellness and balance is extremely important.
Some of my recent realizations include:
Lack of time spent with family and friends
Not eating proper meals. (Raise your hand if you’ve had a bag of gummy bears for lunch!)
Lack of exercise
Feeling stressed out and physically feeling the effects
Weight gain. (I’m not being honest with the scale or myself on this point)
Doing too much, overscheduling myself, taking on too many commitments, never saying “no”
If any of this sounds remotely familiar to you, this is a sign of burnout and slipping self-care. It’s vital to understand the toll it has taken on your life and the day-to-day operations in your work.
As an Executive Assistant, you take care of everyone at work and at home. It is important to stop and reassess your life as it is right now and ask what you are doing to take care of yourself.
Here are a few things I have found to be extremely helpful:
Control your mindset. When you wake up in the morning, take 3 deep breaths and set an intention for the day. As an example: inhale breath-positivity; exhale breath-negativity.
Block out your calendar every day for dedication “you” time. You manage everyone else’s calendar so don’t forget to manage your own. Use this time for exercise, quiet time, taking a walk and honor yourself enough to make this a non-negotiable.
Hold yourself accountable for your health. Take a deep breath, be brave, and face what you’ve been avoiding. If you’re feeling fluffy, make yourself step on the scale, and don’t panic. There is truth to the numbers tied to your overall wellbeing and facing it should make you feel empowered. Remember, your worth isn’t tied to your weight. It’s just one gauge to use for your health and progress. Many people saw their weight creep up during the pandemic. From my own perspective, this is a constant mental battle that I have made myself be more aware of but can’t allow myself to ruminate on.
Evaluate your day. Before you go to sleep, make a list of things you did during the day that were good and not so great. Look for that balance. It is a quick check point of how you are taking care of “you”. This technique has helped me retain my focus immensely.
Remember your purpose and driving force. At the end of the day,I try to remember why you were put on this earth, the purpose you serve for yourself, your family and your profession. I’ve found that grounding myself and pacing myself in the core of who I am helps put things into perspective
There’s only one you in this world. If you don’t take control of your life, control, mindset, and your health now, who will? The time to begin your bounce-back is now!
Diane Steele, CEO of Steele Recruiting offers National Executive Search services for Executive Assistants supporting C-Suite Executives, and private career coaching.
Plan a free, 15 minute candidate consultation, or 15 minute client consultation by clicking here.
Diane can be contacted at diane@steelerecuiting.com or steelerecruiting.com.
Edited by Abby Huot.
